lost

What was on TV? Wed, Feb 23, 2005

The first winner of Project Runway is crowned, a stellar episode of Lost, plus Alias

Grace MacLaine

23 Feb 2025 — 6 min read

20 years ago, we were worried about a Bird Flu pandemic. How little changes, how little we learn. Let's see what was on TV.

8:00 Lost on ABC

1x17 "...in Translation" (record The Catherine Tate Show on BBC America)

I love this episode so very much. Here are 14 reasons why:

The title. Lost always has fun episode titles, and this is one of the show's best.
The opening scene with Sun and Jin fighting and everyone just awkwardly standing back. It's the problem of your fighting neighbors, transferred to the island.
Jin saying that Sun is his dream always melts my heart. I'm a sappy person.
The return of the golf course!
Sawyer's whole "lord of the flies" speech as he drags Jin off to his public shaming/trial/whatever they'll figure it out. I love when Lost becomes a post-9/11 philosophy class.
That dog! It's a great callback to the last Sun and Jin episode, where the dog growing from a puppy to a full-sized pooch was used to signal the passage of time and degradation of their marriage. But here? I was already freaked out when this guy started sobbing in gratitude after Jin told him he was displeased instead of murdering him. Then he rips that dog from his daughter and forces Jin to take it. Chilling. I like Byron Chung in the role, but nothing makes me fear Sun's dad as much as this scene.
The big reveal on the beach. Most of the cast is there, and we watch as they decide how to deal with this situation. Should they punish Jin? Is there enough evidence? Should they separate him and Michael? Or let them have it out? These are heavy questions when you're creating a soceity in real time, and we get to watch as the whole cast grapples with them in real time. And by now, we know most of these people really well, on and off the island. The scene takes full advantage of that, especially when Sun starts speaking English and we get to see the whole gang react: shock, jokes, pretending you didn't already know, it's a blast.
"We aren't the only people on this island and we all know it!" Locke speaks for the fans and it is cathartic as hell. And this plays even better on rewatch when you know he was also covering for...
Waaaaaaalt! "...In Translation" is one of his best episodes! Malcolm David Kelly does great work, upon rewatch you can see Walt come to regret his impulsive decision to burn the raft, just in the background of scenes. And his final scene with Michael and his backgammon game with Locke are both great.
This is one of the best-directed episodes of the season. Dozens of knockout shots, director Tucker Gates and cinematographer Michael Bonvillain really went off here. Even random stuff like Shannon and Sayid's kiss at the campfire is crazy gorgeous.
The reveal of Jin's dad is such a great twist within the episode. And actor John Shin gives a great performance. And the novelty of a good dad is appreciated on Lost!
Sun and Jin's big fight just destroys me every time. The switching back between English and Korean, both performances, that final shot of Sun alone. Tears stream down my face!
The discman gag. Never gets old.
We're in the middle of one of the show's all-time best runs, and the teases for what's to come? Chef's kiss.

9:00 Alias on ABC

4x08 "Echoes" (record Project Runway on Bravo and The West Wing on NBC)

Alias remained committed to fun standalone spy adventures for seven episodes. It was never going to last. This episode draws on the show's rich history and would be incomprehensible to an Alias novice. Gina Torres is back! Sark is back! We're talking about Melissa George again. And Rimbaldi references are absolutely everywhere.

But I'm glad that the show is taken the fun of those standalone episodes into this new era. In this episode, Jennifer Garner has an epic fight with Gina Torrres in a designer boutique, and it's soundtracked by "Making Whoopee." It's silly, a little trashy, and a whole lot of fun. I'm not a huge fan of the Rimbaldi stuff, but it all goes down a lot easier when it comes with scenes like this one.

10:00 Project Runway (recorded)

This episode was filmed and turned around in...a week or two? The fashion show took place after they announced the final three, obvioulsy to avoid spoilers. And that shows in the final product, the episode lacks a clear throughline and it isn't as tightly edited or compelling as previous intallments. But the delay allows you to see that this show is a hit now! The show was pretty much ignored upon its debut, but by the time they held that fashion show, it was a true part of the zeitgeist. There was controversy, fan blogs, newspaper articles, the works. There was even a Project Runway SNL sketch this week! You can feel that energy at the fashion show, and it's really something special.

And it's good that the show was a hit, since the ongoing dissolution of production company Miramax put its future in doubt. The show survived, and Harvey and Bon Weinstein took it with them to their new company, and became a sort of cash cow for them. It's a strange part of the show's legacy that you remember every time the credits roll and you see the words "executive producer Harvey Weinstein."

Late Night

Recurring Late Night character Triumph the Insult Comic Dog made a comedy a;bum and got a Grammy nomination. So team Conan sent him to the ceremony and taped a bit, which aired tonight.

But you know who had the sickest Grammy burns this year? Aimee Mann. Entertainment Weekly crashed a cool Grammy-watching party full of semi-famous people and printed their wittiest observations in the magazine. David Cross, Lisa Loeb, and two members of The Donnas were there. But Aimee was the one serving tea. She did not hold back. My favorite bon mots from her:

On the Black Eyed Peas: "Who are these people?"
When Alicia Keys performed "If I Ain't Got You," someone asked when it became hip to perform with an orchestra. Aimee had this to say: "[You use an orchestra] when you're trying to cover a multitude of sins. You can't have too many strings to make up for the lack of lyrics. She does look good, though. There, I've said something positive."
"I like Gretchen Wilson because she's a country singer who actually looks white-trash."
Reacting to presenter Quentin Tarantino: "Aw yeah, the Q is in the hizzouse! Oh, God." This is captures my feelings every time Tarantino shows up anywhere.
Aimee Mann questions the cosmetological choices of Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt: "Why does the bass player always get stuck with the bad-spiky-blond-hair look? Same thing happened to me."
"Joss Stone looks like they took Janis Joplin and gave her over to The Swan."
"When are they going to announce this? It's late. Doesn't Gary Sinise understand it's time to go home?"

What Else Was On

UPN scheduled guest spots for all the most popular cycle 3 girls to hype up cycle 4 of America's Next Top Model. First up was winner Eva, who began a two-episode stint on Kevin Hill. See, her experience acting opposite Taye Diggs in that acting challenge paid off!
Tonight's Special Sweeps Guest Star: Burt Reynolds on King of Queens.

TiVo Status

The Masterpiece Theater miniseries The Lost Prince, two Frontline documentaries, House of Saud, the TV movies Sucker Free City, Lackawanna Blues, School of Life, and Ladies Night, three episodes of Miracle's Boys, and one episode each of King of the Hill and Without a Trace. 19 hours total.